The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-02
THEY DIDN'T WANT To TALK
The Weather and Approaching Election
Keep Down 0ratory in the Council.
Mr.. Thalma.n Introduces a Supplemental Nat
ural Gas Ordinance, Allowing Higher
Rates To Be Charged for a Few Years.

lt WAS midsummer night session. thai or
Council last evening. with just enough members
PRESENT to transact business. No one had any
large enterprise to forward or proposition of any
moment to sustain. It was the lull that afford ed
ali opportunity to get through a erist of minor
Factions and improvement ordinances. 1t IS
also the time when councilmen to be
nominated. hence those of the present body who
are looking after their chances of returning as
members, prefer to keep quiet unless they are
certain of acting in accordance with Q firm pub
lie feeling for against any matter With
these conditions, only attention TO dull routine
could be obtained.
In the order OF reports that of the city
treasurer alone had anything worth mentioning.
It showed that the balance is getting down
rapidly from the quarter of million reported
two months ago. just after the spring tax co'lec-
tions. There is only ISL. O35. OF to the credit of
the city now in the treasury, and If the expendi-
lures during August equal those of July, that
sum will be reduced more than ouehalf by
September and wholly exhausted by October.
But the fall collections will be available before
the last dollar is spent and the city will get
through without an increase of indebtedness.
There was a batch of contractors bonds sent
to the clerks desk. All of them approx ed.
Most of them were various sums, from few
hundred dollars to SIS, 600, but one of them
for $26. 900. This A. Bruner offered fo- the fui-
flnent of his contract the Ray-street sewer.
His suretes are Omer B. Boardman. An
derson Bruner, John M. Judah and Coffin,
Greentreet and Fletcher.
The committee on contracts in a lengthy re-
port recommended the approval of the awards
it had made for various street improvements.
All except that relating to Washington street
of the minor class and called for the exnend-
iture of few hundred dollars in each instance.
There were three bidders for tn 9 Washington
street work. which is to be done with Medina
sandstone, the improvement to extend from
Mississippi to Alabama street. Fulmer Seibert.
Cooper q Co. got the contract at their bid of
SIS per lineal foot on each SIDE. Richter d
Twiname proposed to do it for 500. 80 and the
Ciaain Paving Company for 5000 The Coun-
Gil concurred in the report
For some tune a new dumping ground for the
city's refuse has beer under consideration by
the committee on public property. The old
grounds along the river were not suitable,
the cartmen took advan tage of high water in
the river aud unloaded the refuse on the bank
The place became a nuisance, and What loads
were dumped in the river the current did
not carry off, 1t was the commit
tees opinion, expressed in it's report
that the city ought to buy two lots from Koenie-
er and krumholz for a sum not exceeding $500,
for DUN ping purposes. These lots lay the
Beltralwav bridge. where. it is said, the current
is surong nough to carry off all offa and garbage
even at low water. The lots are also said to be
accessible in high water. so excuse for dump
ing on she land or on the banks of the river can
be given. The Council ordered the purchase of
the lots.
An ordinance introduced changing the
line of the sewer heretofore provided for Broad
way and St. Clair streets. The committee
recommended striking from the files the old
ordinance, so az to give place for the new one
which fixes the route of the sewer along the first
alley west of the intersection of ST Clair street
and Massachusetts avenue as far as Cherry
street. number of improvement ordinances
read the second time, a few passed and one
was withdrawn. 1t related to the Ash-street
improvement which met with formidable
opposition from property-owners. 1872
Councilman Thalman introduced ordinance
supplemental to the natural-gas ordinance. 1t
provides that any company, firm, corporation or
individual laying one or more lines of ten-inch
mains. connecting the city with the natural gas
fields. on or before Jan. l, 1888, through which
natural gas is supplied to any number of
sumers. may legally charge and receive for such
gas for two years from JAN l. 1888. to
above the specified in the first ordinance.
From Jan. l. 1880, to Jan. l. 1893,
20 per cent over and above the rates
specified in the first ordinance may be
schedule rates alone shall prevail. This
privilege is to be accorded only the
panies, individuals firms who file their
bonds accept the terms of the natural-ca
ordinance and lay pipe required in the
supplemental ordinance. The matter
ferrsd to the special committee on natural gas.
Councilman Swain, of that com mittee said
petition of citizens had been referred to 1t, but
meeting had been held. He asked for further
time, which granted.
John Foxs appointment to position on the
fire department. in place OF Alex. Haugh, re-
signed, was approved Lorenz Schmidt was APP
pointed commissioner of Garfield Park.